A METHOD AND PLANT FOR HANDLING CANS

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for handling recyclable beverage cans. Cans (23) are conveyed from a feed site inside a shop to a crusher and collector site (5, 7) outside the shop by means of a pneumatic conveyor (3) of pneumatic tube type.

Description: A METHOD AND PLANT FOR HANDLING CANS Technical Field The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for handling recyclable beverage cans, com- prising the use of a can feed device, a can crusher and a collector for compacted cans. Technical Background Most shops today have special machines for receiv- ing recyclable beverage cans of aluminium. In these machines, the cans, once approved through different detection techniques, are compacted or crushed before dropping into a collecting bag or box which, when filled, is taken care of by the shop staff and removed from inside the shop. Since the collected cans often contain liquid residues and other impurities, sanitary problems often arise. The very handling of the collect¬ ing bags or boxes also involves problems. Object of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for handling recyclable cans, which essentially obviates the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention This object is achieved by a method and an appara¬ tus having the features recited in the appended claims. The invention is thus based on the insight that major advantages can be gained by separating the feed device located in the shop or the like and containing the required can-detecting means for distinguishing between approved and non-approved cans, from the crusher and the collector, which latter devices can thus be separately disposed outside the interference-prone area where the feed device is located, for example outside the shop at the goods reception bay or general refuse collecting area. For conveying the cans between the feed device and the crusher, use is made of a can conveyor which preferably operates pneumatically, suitably being of the pneumatic tube type. As will be readily appreciated, the invention ensures that odour problems and other sanitary problems inside the shop are largely eliminated at the same time as the handling of the compacted and collected cans is rendered considerably more effective. For example, the cans can be collected directly in a large transport ves¬ sel, such as a container, or in a large storage vessel which can easily be emptied into a transport vehicle for recycling. The invention will be described in more detail hereinbelow in one embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing. Brief Description of the Drawing Fig. 1 is a schematic partial view from above of a conceivable feed device for use in an apparatus accord¬ ing to the invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic side view, partly in section, of a part of an embodiment of a conveyor for use in an apparatus according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a part of an apparatus according to the invention, illustrating a preferred embodiment of a combined crusher and collec¬ tor. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating an alternative embodiment of a feed device. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a function for preventing a non-approved can from being fed into the conveyor. Description of Embodiments The embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention as illustrated in Figs 1-3 comprises as main components a feed device 1, illustrated highly schemati- cally, a pipe conveyor 3, a crusher 5 and a collector 7. The feed device 1 includes a horizontal rotary disc 9, on one side of which cans are to be inserted stand¬ ing, as indicated by the arrow 11. A guide baffle 13 forces a deposited can to move against a rotating magne- tic cylinder 15 having a vertical axis, which detects and removes cans of magnetic material, i.e. non-approved cans. The approved cans are however displaced on the disc 4 up to the inlet portion 17 of a pipe 19 being part of the can conveyor 3. The inlet portion 17 of the pipe connects with the disc 4 and is open at the bottom towards the direction whence the cans are displaced towards the inlet portion 17. The opening 21 of the inlet portion 17 has a width and a height adapted to the size of the cans to be sucked into the pipe 19. The inlet portion is inclined slightly rearwards from vertical position relative to the opening 21. A can 23 moved up to the opening 21 will remain standing for a short while before being sucked into and up the pipe 19 together with air 25 sucked in. A can standing before the opening 21 is detected by a detector 27, whose function will be described in more detail hereinbelow. The air flow in the pipe 19 is produced by an air injector 29, blowing air 31 into the pipe 19 obliquely from below. This injection of air brings about the air suction in the inlet portion 17 of the pipe and produces a blower conveying effect further on in the pipe 19 on cans sucked into it, when these have passed the injector 29. This ensures efficient conveyance of the cans through the pipe 19 up to the crusher 5. The crusher, which may be of any suitable type, is disposed directly on a large collector 7, which is sus¬ pended by means of stays 33 (not shown in greater detail ) , so that a can recycling vehicle can easily be backed in underneath the container 7 for emptying collected cans down into the loading compartment of the vehicle via a chute 35 which can be folded down from the container 7. At the air outlet end of the injector 29 in the pipe, there is provided a flap device 37, by means of which a guide flap 39 can be folded out in front of the air flow from the injector 29. In this manner, the air flow will be reversed in the inlet portion 17, as shown by the arrows 41. The reversed air flow ejects any can 43 that may be positioned in front of the opening 21. The flap device 37 is controlled by the detector 27. If a can 43 remains too long before the opening 21 without being sucked into the pipe, this means that the can is too heavy and cannot be approved. The air-revers- ing function now described will thus ensure that such a can 43 is ejected and not conveyed further for compact¬ ing and collection. Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a feed device for use in an apparatus according to the invention. Cans are moved past the inlet opening 21 of the pipe by means of a horizontal endless conveyor belt 45. It is understood that, in this case, cans that are too heavy can be automatically separated, in that there will not be sufficient time for such cans to be sucked in laterally into the opening 21 when passing by. In other words, the adjustment of the suction effect will determine what weight the cans should have to be sucked into the pipe.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method for handling recyclable beverage cans, the cans (23 ) being deposited in a feed device ( 1 ) , thereafter compacted in a crusher (5) and, in the com¬ pacted state, collected in a collector (7), c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d by arranging the feed device (1) at a first location, in a shop, individually and separately arranging the crusher (5) adjacent the collector (7) at a second location outside the interference-prone area where the feed device (1) is located, such as outside the shop at a goods reception bay, a refuse collection space or the like, and transferring deposited cans from the feed device (1) to the crusher (5) via a can conveyor (3) , thereby substantially eliminating odour and other sanitary problems in the shop and rendering the handling of the compacted and collected cans significantly more effective. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d by using a can conveyor (3) of pneumatic ype, preferably pneumatic tube type. 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d by using a can conveyor (3) in which the cans (23) are first sucked into a pipe (19) and there¬ after blown through the pipe on to the crusher ( 5) . 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d by detecting whether a can which is in position to be sucked into the pipe (19), is sucked into it within a predetermined time, affecting, if such suc¬ tion does not take place, the air flow in the inlet portion (17) of the pipe, preferably for reversing the direction of the air flow, so that the can (43) con¬ cerned is removed from the suction position, preferably blown away therefrom. 5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by arranging the col¬ lector (7) such that it can be emptied downwards into a transport vehicle positioned underneath it, or using as collector a transport container, a large-size vessel or the like. 6. An apparatus for handling recyclable beverage cans, comprising a feed device (1) in which cans are deposited for evaluation, a crusher (5) to which approv- ed cans (23) are fed for compacting, and a collector (7) for collecting cans compacted in the crusher, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the crusher (5) and the col¬ lector (7 ) are separately disposed remote from the feed device (1) which is disposed in a shop, and outside the interference-prone area where the feed device is locat¬ ed, especially outside the shop, the feed device (1) and the crusher ( 5) being connected to each other by a can conveyor (3), by means of which approved cans (23) deposited in the feed device are conveyed to the crusher (5) for compacting and subsequent collection in the collector (7). 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in the the conveyor (3 ) is a pneuma¬ tic conveyor, preferably of pneumatic tube type. 8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the conveyor (3) is a pipe conveyor and comprises an air injector (29) producing a suction air flow in the inlet portion (17) of the pipe and an exhaust air flow in the outlet portion of the pipe. 9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that is comprises means (37, 39) for controlling the air injector (29) such that the air flow in the inlet portion (17) of the pipe is altered, preferably reversed, with a view to removing a can (43) which is in suction position and has been detected as a non-approved can. 10. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6-9, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the collector ( 7 ) is a container to be emptied downwards into a trans¬ port vehicle or a transport vessel, such as a container.

Inventors: WOEHLK KNUD, WOEHLK, KNUD
Applicants: IGENTA RETURSYSTEM AB
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G07F7
IPC codes: B30B9, B65G51, G07F7